Knee Update

KT cream

October 1, I had my left knee joint replaced. Since I had challenges with the right knee joint replacement, I figured this time would be easier. . . Hah. . . .was I ever incorrect!!!!

The surgeon said that my surgery went just as well as the first. For me, I had much more pain at the three internal incision sites. While the external incision healed well and the joint replacement parts continue to function well, those other painful areas stopped forward progress. 

Pumpkin snickerdoodle cookies

First, the area on the inside of my knee was so sore, barely touching the area with my finger tips caused me pain. The surgeon makes a half moon internal incision in that area to access where the leg bones attach to the joint. It made sense to me why this area was so sore. 

Pumpkin scones

Massage and laser treatments at PT provided a little relief at the appointment. By the time I returned home, the area was back to being painful. I had a body massage which helped that area. I tried KT cream, which is a magnesium and arnica cream. The cream did help relax the muscles. The product is made in the USA. Also, I found taking a magnesium glycerinate supplement helpful to relax the muscles.

Second, I was unable to lift my leg with a straight leg raise until last week. The surgeon makes an internal incision through the quadricep muscle to access the knee cap. We tried all sorts of ways to wake up the nerves. Some days, while my husband was doing the leg lifting, the muscle would try to work. The result would make me laugh because the leg would shake, swing erratically or just suddenly lose all movement. My husband thought I was playing around!

Starbucks-like pumpkin bread

Third, the area on the outside of my knee, where the ligaments are reattached, was super sore. The surgeon makes an incision in this area to be able to reattach the ligaments. Last time, I had some of the same results; but, the pain was much less because from mid thigh to mid shin, that area was numb. This time, I have a lot more active nerves.

Fourth, pain under my knee cap made movements like heel slides and squats too painful. Swelling caused the knee cap not to be able to slide so that was the reason for the pain. 

Using heat during the day, I stretched the muscles and walked gingerly around the house. I needed to use the walker because walking heel to toe caused me a pain range of 5-7 depending what part of my foot touched the floor. Shoes on or off. . . it didn't change the pain level. At night, I used ice to try to sleep through the pain. 

Pumpkin sourdough bread

I could sit in my chair with my leg somewhat elevated. Elevating it any higher caused me too much pain. I could lay in bed in two side laying positions. I could gingerly walk around; but, that was it. The position and the continual pain didn't work for reading, hand stitching and even watching tv sometimes was a no go. I even had to forgo reading and replying to blog posts!!

Water exercise with my friend, Wendy, in her home pool

Ditch quilting on a RSC project

Even though it was painful, every day, I tried to do my previous exercises. Most days were epic fails. Week six, PT moved me from the walker to the cane after I had some relief from the pain on the inside of my knee. I found I could turn my knee to the neutral position which I had been unable to do. Late in the week, I could do five to 10 leg raises on my own. I also did some walking in my friend Wendy's pool. I sure have missed the water!!!

Week seven, I was able to do a set of 20 leg raises on my own. I practiced standing by baking pumpkin recipes. My granddaughters were over the previous weekend. We opened a large can of pumpkin puree to use half a cup to make pumpkin sugar cookies. I didn't want the puree to go to waste! 

The first recipe I made was Soft Pumpkin Snickerdoodle cookies which used half a cup of puree. I had to take a break putting together the wet and then the dry ingredients. Once I mixed the cookies, I found I needed to sit to shape the cookies. I rested before I did the clean up and later that day, my leg had lots of pain.

Once the pain abated some, I tried working on my sitting skills. I did some ditch quilting on a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project. Gosh, it felt good to Zoom with my Friday group and make progress on a project!!! I stood up and walked a bit every 30 minutes and I took a couple hour breaks. I was able to hang with the group for about six hours.

The following day, I made Pumpkin Scones which used three quarters of a cup of puree. I did better standing while mixing the ingredients. While the scones were baking, I mixed up a batch of sourdough pumpkin bread. It needed to raise overnight. The bread recipe used three quarters of a cup of puree. 

A few more neutrals ready for the mystery 

When the scones came out of the oven, I decided it would be a good day to share a few with my friend, Wendy. I also wanted to try driving. I did drive and made the delivery. . .I asked for a few hugs which were given and felt so good!!! I'm glad my friend lives fairly close as that was far enough with a break for my first foray. It means that I'll be driving myself to PT. Driving means freedom for both me and my husband!! I did not try sitting and quilting as my knee was too sore.

The third day, I made a batch of pumpkin bread that is supposed to taste like what is sold at Starbucks. The recipe called for a cup of puree, I was probably a quarter cup short. I made the recipe anyway! It looked good and smelled good. How it tastes will have to wait until Christmas. After it cooled, I froze it. Our London daughter likes Starbucks pumpkin bread so I wanted her to do the taste test. I also baked the sourdough pumpkin bread. I finally used all of the puree!

This morning to practice standing, I ironed a few of my neutral fabrics for the upcoming Bonnie Hunter The Old Town mystery. I have a lot of neutrals ready for the first clue. I still feel unsteady walking with the cane; but, every day I see and feel improvement . . .at LAST! 

I'm off to do some ditch quilting. Goal number six on my November list was to continue with my knee PT. Goal number 11 on my November list was to do some ditch quilting on a RSC project.